The Spanish Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria (IHCantabria) is carrying out a project to mitigate and provide solutions to the erosion of the beaches of the Dominican Republic, which they are losing about 10 meters of sand a year in some areas, With what this means for a tourist country.
IHCantabria researcher Mauricio González is responsible for this “Feasibility Study for Integrated Coastal Management” commissioned by the Caribbean Ministries of Tourism and Environment with the financial support of the Inter-American Development Bank, reports the Spanish University of Cantabria in a statement.
The work began seven months ago and will continue until next year with one goal: “To slow down the process of strong erosion that affects the beaches, the economic engine of this country, to have them in condition,” said Gonzalez .
In addition, the Dominican Government is committed to the sustainable development of this sun and beach tourism, posing the challenge of seeking environmentally compatible solutions for their ecosystems.
The diagnosis made by the scientists places the origin of the problem both in the effects of the climate crisis and in anthropogenic actions.
“In recent years, hurricanes and thunderstorms have increased their frequency and intensity, and the action of climate change and humans have been degenerating the areas of reefs and mangroves, elements that protect against these hurricanes, as they dissipate the energy that reaches the beaches, “Mauricio González pointed out.
This has led, according to the researcher, to the fact that, in ten years, there are areas where they have retreated on the order of 100 meters, “the equivalent of an apple”.
The researchers began by analyzing the problem of the different beaches.
According to González, several locations are being studied, although debido to the pandemic by the covid-19 the works have to realize from Cantabria.
This fieldwork includes collecting information on waves, currents, tides, and coastal flooding, which is introduced into numerical models to represent different erosion dynamics. “We analyze the current situation and in climate change scenarios of between 50 and 100 years,” the researcher detailed.
In a second phase, researchers will conduct participatory workshops with local actors “who can help, with their perception of the problem, to provide a solution in the medium and long term.”
All this, according to Mauricio González, will enrich the proposals for mitigation measures to control this erosion and “that we can have beaches compatible with tourism”, recovering square meters of great value for the future of the American country.